The dopamine hypothesis

dopamine hypothesis states that schizophrenia is caused by excessive dopamine activity - leading to characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia

schizophrenics have abnormally high numbers of D2 receptors on receiving neurons - resulting in more dopamine binding and therefore more neurons firing

Comer (2003) -> certain D2 receptors play a key role in guiding attention - disturbances in this process could lead to problems thought to be found in schizophrenics i.e. attention, perception and thought related problems